Chapter : 20 The weirdos!

Under the star-studded canopy of the night, Vali hovered gracefully within his Balance Breaker, a spectral presence in the heart of the dense forest. Before him stood the enigmatic Leader of the Chasers, whose palm emitted a mesmerizing yellow glow, hurling fiery spheres at Vali's armored form.

A momentary hush fell over the Chasers as the fiery assault seemingly had no impact on Vali. "When are you gonna attack?" Vali quipped with a hint of impatience.

"He already attacked, Vali," Albion's voice resonated in his mind.

"What? I didn't even notice," Vali muttered, having paid little attention to the seemingly feeble attack.

The Chaser stepped back cautiously, realizing he was outmatched. His gaze shifted to a small girl concealed behind the trees, prompting him to launch a fireball toward her.

"Bastard," Vali exclaimed, swiftly materializing between them, his palm intercepting the fiery projectile.

"Shameless," Vali scorned, darting towards the Chaser with lightning speed, poised for a punishing blow.

"Please stop," a mysterious voice echoed, halting Vali's punch just centimeters from the adversary face. The force behind the punch sent him hurtling like a ragdoll.

An old man in a kimono appeared out of nowhere. "White Dragon Emperor, I apologize for a clan member's rude behavior," he said politely, the Chasers bowing as if he were their leader.

But the mystery didn't end there. Another figure emerged, a man in his 40s with brown hair elegantly dressed in a black suit. Beside him, a small girl with crimson hair that shone in the moonlight.

"What are devils doing here?" the old man glared at them.

"We received news of a child who healed someone related to our Gremory clan. When she learned he was connected to devils, she ran, so we just came to check on her," the man beside the crimson-haired girl explained.

"Seeing the situation, it seems like she really needs help," he added, looking at the small girl hiding behind the trees. The Chasers cursed at them, frustrated that outsiders were meddling in their business.

"So what are you suggesting, Gremory?" the old man asked, hinting that he knew exactly who they were.

As the small crimson-haired girl stepped forward, Rias Gremory declared, "I am Rias Gremory, and we would like to take her with us and take care of her."

"Fine, I agree, but I have one condition," the old man interjected.

"Clan head, what are you saying?" one of the chasers questioned, prompting murmurs from the others.

As the old man raised his hand, silence fell. "My condition is that she never steps into the Himejima clan area," he declared.

The man beside Rias glanced at her and then responded, "We agree to your condition," as if seeking confirmation from Rias.

As now everyone turned towards Vali who was completely ignored in this situation.

"And what could the white dragon suggest?" the man added as everyone's focus shifted to Vali.

Vali, perplexed by the sudden appearance of the newcomers, pondered the situation. "What with these guys appearing out of nowhere and making deals," he thought, eyeing the little girl hiding behind the trees. "I can't take her with me, so it might be better for Gremory to handle her, given their reputation for caring, even for their servants."

While Vali was lost in thought, the others waited patiently.

Suddenly, Vali vanished and reappeared in front of the little girl. He extended his palm, and after a moment of hesitation, she slowly placed her hand in his.

"What's your name?" Vali asked

"Akeno Himejima," she replied softly.

Vali inquired, "So, Akeno, would you like to go with them? If you do, they'll ensure your safety, and you might even grow stronger under their care." Vali's words hung in the air as Akeno looked confused. While Rias approached with a smile, extending her hand. "Would you like to become my friend?" she asked.

As Akeno looked towards vali as before holding her hand .

"Well, since everything is over, I'll be taking off," Vali declared, disappearing in a brilliant flash as he swiftly traversed the distance. Hovering in mid-air, he sighed, "Seriously, why do I always run into such peculiar individuals?"

A voice interrupted his thoughts, "If it isn't the White Dragon Emperor." Vali halted and turned to find a man with twelve crow-like wings.

"Here comes another weirdo," Vali muttered, clearly unimpressed.

"Hey, don't look so disappointed after seeing me," the man with wings teased.

"What do you want, fallen angel?" Vali inquired, getting straight to the point.

"I want nothing. I just followed you to say thank you for helping Akeno," the man replied.

"If that's all, you can leave," Vali retorted, displaying his indifference.

"What's the rush? Let's at least introduce ourselves. I am Azazel," the man said, the moonlight seemingly casting a spotlight on him. Vali observed a man in his twenties, of average build, with black hair, golden bangs, and a black goatee, an enigmatic figure against the dark backdrop.

Meanwhile somewhere in the Underworld.

In a dimly lit room, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, a striking man in his twenties with crimson hair sat alongside a familiar figure—the same man along with Rias who aided Akeno in the forest. As he recounted the unfolding events, the room seemed to hold its breath.

"So, the White Dragon has emerged. This suggests the Red will follow suit. Whether they become allies or foes, only the future can unveil," the crimson-haired man mused with an air of contemplation.

"Maou-sama, there's something else I must bring to your attention regarding the White Dragon. It appears he is just kid," the man respectfully added, casting a weighty atmosphere over the room.

To be continued....

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Author Note: Sorry for not updating the story recently; I was busy with some personal work. Also, I would like to inform you that I will be taking a break, maybe for 5 days, after uploading one or two chapters. I feel that the story is not as interesting, so I am thinking of approaching a new way to continue it.